SUMMARY

Rebels of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria initially committed one-sided following the escalation of the conflict in 1999. Chechen insurgents attacked villagers that refused to allow them on their territory. Since 1999, there were also several reports of Chechen suicide bombings in public places. These attacks were typically launched in other republics in the North Caucasus and in Moscow.

Several possible motives for the suicide bombings have been advanced by academics and media. It is said that the - often female - perpetrators of these attacks have lost their husbands or other close relatives in the fight against the Russians. They would therefore seek revenge. Others claim that the women have been coerced or brainwashed.

Chechen leader figures have taken different stands on the use of one-sided violence. Aslan Maskhadov, who was elected Chechen ‘president’ in 1997, has regularly condemned the killing of civilians. In contrast, field commander Shamil Basayev, considered it to be a legitimate means of warfare. He motivated this attitude with ‘the struggle for national liberation’ and has claimed to have been behind a number of attacks on civilians.

The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 1999, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached due to an attack on villagers in the Nauirsky district in the context of the escalation of the conflict in 1999.